Andrew – Jim Scudder Jr.

Today’s Scripture: And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:18-19

Throughout the Gospels, Andrew is repeatedly referred to as the brother of Peter. If you have siblings, you know that people often compare you to your brothers or sisters.

I can imagine that Andrew was no exception. Peter was the one who got to walk on water, the one who was on the Mount of Transfiguration, the one who preached at Pentecost, and the one who first brought the Gospel to the Gentiles. Peter did some incredible things, but almost every time Andrew is mentioned, it is just that he is Peter’s brother.

He may have felt insignificant, but do you know what? Andrew was a fisher of men. He won many people to Christ, and he is one of the twelve apostles whose names are on the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem.

He was not insignificant in any way. God had a plan for Andrew’s life, and he followed Christ until the day he died. He was the one who told Peter that the Messiah had come (John 1:41), he left his career as a fisherman to follow Jesus full time (Matthew 4:18-20), and he was the one who mentioned the boy with five loaves and two fishes to Jesus (John 6:9).

After the Church was established, according to tradition, Andrew travelled all over Asia and preached the Gospel. He is said to have been crucified in Greece.1

Do you often compare your life with someone else’s life? If so, you have your focus off target. God had a very specific plan for Andrew, and it was a different plan than God’s plan for Peter. That being said, God has a very specific plan for you, and it is different than His plan for others. So don’t compare your life with others; compare it with God’s will.